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Embrace Pet Insurance Review: Prices & Plans April 2024

Embrace Pet Insurance review
KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Embrace Pet Insurance offers multiple insurance plans, allowing you to tailor your coverage to your budget and your pet’s needs.
  • A standard plan costs around $18-$72 per month for dogs and $8-$38 per month for cats.
  • In addition to its standard insurance plans, Embrace offers a wellness plan that covers up to $650 per year in routine expenses.
  • Customer reviews are generally positive, with reviewers mentioning the insurer’s affordable rates, easy-to-use claims portal and high level of transparency.
  • We like Embrace because of its customization options, discounts and 24/7 pet helpline.
  • To compare Embrace against other pet insurance companies, try using our online comparison tool. This way, you can compare multiple quotes and clearly view all your coverage options.
SUMMARY

No matter how healthy your pet is now, there’s always a chance it will need care for a serious injury or chronic health condition in the future.

Pet insurance gives you peace of mind by covering a large percentage of eligible expenses, leaving you to pay less out of your own pocket. Many companies offer this type of insurance, but Embrace is one of the top providers.

In this Embrace Pet Insurance review, we highlight the pros and cons of each plan, tell you why we like Embrace and provide more information about the cost of pet health insurance.

Discover how you can use a plan from Embrace Pet Insurance to make pet care more affordable.
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COMPARE PLANS via Petinsurer.com's secure website
4.8
Maximum annual coverage
$5,000 - Unlimited
Reimbursement choices
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductible choices
$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000
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Is Embrace Pet Insurance good?

Bottom line: Embrace is a good pet insurance company, with affordable plans, various options for customizing your pet’s coverage, multiple discounts available, and overall positive reviews.

What does Embrace pet insurance cover?

Embrace Pet Insurance has accident and illness, accident-only and wellness plans.

Let’s dive into what these types of plans cover.

Accident and illness coverage

Accident and illness pet insurance is the most comprehensive coverage option. It covers vet expenses arising from the treatment of injuries and illnesses.

For example, if your dog has diabetes, your Embrace Pet Insurance coverage should reimburse you for any medications or other nonexperimental treatments used to address the condition.

Here are some of the acute and chronic conditions covered by this type of pet insurance.

Embrace accident and illness coverage

  • Dental illnesses ($1,000 annual coverage limit)
  • Hereditary & congenital conditions (including allergies, hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease)
  • Chronic conditions like arthritis or diabetes
  • Cancer treatment
  • Broken bones
  • Torn ligaments
  • Lyme disease
  • Parasites
  • Hospitalization and surgery
  • Emergency care
  • Prescription medication
  • Lab tests
  • Specialist care
  • Diagnostic testing like biopsies, X-rays and MRIs
  • Alternative treatment & rehab like laser therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy

Accident-only coverage

Accident-only pet insurance is less expensive because it only covers accidental injuries.

For example, if your cat gets out of the house and gets hit by a car, an accident-only policy would cover the cost of X-rays, antibiotics, bandages and other expenses associated with treating its injuries.

This type of pet insurance also covers veterinary treatment related to poisoning, lacerations, cuts, torn cruciate ligaments and foreign body ingestion. It doesn’t cover the treatment of acute or chronic conditions.

Embrace accident-only coverage

  • Bloat
  • Foreign body ingestion
  • Getting hit by a car
  • Torn cruciate ligament
  • Poisoning
  • Cuts & lacerations
  • Prescription drugs for covered conditions
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Wellness coverage

Embrace Wellness Rewards isn’t a standard pet insurance plan, but it does give you some extra benefits.

If you add Wellness Rewards to one of Embrace’s accident and illness or accident-only plans, the company will reimburse you for some types of routine care, such as exam fees, flea and tick prevention, grooming, dental cleanings and acupuncture.

  • Optional add-on

Embrace Wellness Rewards reimbursable coverage options

  • Wellness exams
  • Flea, tick & heartworm medication
  •  Vaccinations
  • Spay/neuter surgery
  • Grooming
  • Preventative teeth cleaning
  • Prescription diet food
  • Training
  • Nail trimming
  • Medicated shampoos
  • Microchipping
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Routine anal gland expression
  • Chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy
  • Pet activity monitors
  • Hip dysplasia exams, radiographs, or other OFA testing

Each year, you get to choose a coverage amount, giving you more flexibility. Your options are $250, $450 and $650.

Embrace exclusions

Pet insurance covers many veterinary expenses, but there are several exclusions you should know about.

What’s not covered

  • Pre-existing conditions 
  • Pregnancy and breeding
  • Injuries related to neglect, abuse or fighting
  • Cosmetic procedures
  • Routine care
  • DNA testing and cloning

It’s important to understand how Embrace handles pre-existing conditions.

In the insurance world, a pre-existing condition is a health condition your pet develops before you enroll in pet insurance and make it through the waiting period. A waiting period is the amount of time you have to wait before your coverage takes effect. For example, if your pet insurance plan comes with a 14-day waiting period, you can’t use your benefits until 14 days have passed since you signed up for coverage. In our article pet insurance without waiting period you can learn about the fastest way to insure your pet.

Like many pet insurance companies, Embrace doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. However, the company handles pre-existing conditions a little differently than other insurers do.

Pet insurance companies usually request vet records to determine if your pet has any pre-existing conditions that should be excluded. In most cases, they go back at least 2 years. Some companies look through medical records for your pet’s entire life.

Embrace Pet Insurance only goes back 12 months in its medical history review. If your pet’s previous condition is a curable one, it may still be eligible for pet insurance through Embrace.

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Embrace Pet Insurance coverage options

Before you purchase pet insurance through Embrace, make note of each plan’s annual limits, reimbursement rates and deductible options.

Annual limits

Embrace covers up to $1,000 per year in vet bills related to dental illnesses.

Otherwise, you have three options when choosing a coverage limit:

The unlimited plan costs the most, but if you have unlimited coverage, you don’t have to worry about hitting a reimbursement limit if your pet has a tough year. An accident-only policy has a limit of $5,000 per year, and Wellness Rewards covers $250 to $650 worth of routine services annually.

Reimbursement rates

The reimbursement rate is the percentage of each eligible expense covered by the company. For example, if you choose an 80% reimbursement rate, you’ll receive 80% of each approved claim.

Embrace offers these reimbursement rate options:

Choosing the lowest reimbursement rate saves you money on pet insurance premiums, but you could end up paying way more in out-of-pocket expenses than you anticipated. If you choose a 90% reimbursement rate, your monthly premium will be higher, but you’ll also get back more of the money you spend on vet expenses.

Deductible options

Deductible is a common insurance term that refers to the amount of money you must pay out of pocket for covered services before your pet insurance picks up the tab. For example, if you have a deductible of $100, you must pay $100 worth of covered vet expenses before Embrace will start reimbursing you according to the terms of your policy.

Embrace offers these deductible options:

How much does pet insurance from Embrace cost?

According to Embrace, their dog insurance costs around $18-72 per month, and their cat insurance costs around $8-$32 per month.

The cost of Embrace pet insurance depends mainly on these factors:

1

Age

The age of your pet has a big impact on the cost of Embrace Pet Insurance. Older pets have a heightened risk of developing expensive health issues, so Embrace and other pet insurance companies adjust their monthly premiums accordingly.

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2

Breed

Some breeds are more likely to develop health issues than others. For example, cocker spaniels are at risk for liver disease, epilepsy and heart disease. As a result, pet insurance companies charge more to insure certain breeds.

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3

Size

Large dogs have an increased risk of arthritis, hip dysplasia and other orthopedic problems. If you have a German shepherd, St. Bernard or other large dog breed, you’ll pay more for insurance than you would if you had a papillon or Chihuahua.

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4

Location

The cost of veterinary care is more expensive in some cities than others. If you live in an expensive city, you’ll pay more for pet insurance, as Embrace will have to pay more for covered expenses.

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5

Annual limit

Embrace Pet Insurance has three coverage limits available: $5,000 per year, $10,000 per year and unlimited. The higher your annual limit, the more you’ll pay for pet insurance.

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6

Deductible

The higher your deductible, the more you have to pay out of pocket for your pet’s care. This reduces the cost of your pet insurance premium.

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To give you a better idea of how much Embrace Pet Insurance costs, we got price quotes for popular cat and dog breeds.

We based these quotes on the following conditions:

The table below shows how much Embrace Pet Insurance charges for three popular cat breeds.

Cat Breed Age Monthly Cost
Abyssinian 6 months $25
Abyssinian 3 years $31
Domestic shorthair 6 months $15
Domestic shorthair 3 years $19
Ragdoll 6 months $25
Ragdoll 3 years $31

The following table shows the cost of Embrace Pet Insurance for three popular dog breeds.

Dog Breed Age Monthly Cost
Beagle 6 months $49
Beagle 3 years $46
German Shepherd 6 months $52
German Shepherd 3 years $49
Golden Retriever 6 months $52
Golden Retriever 3 years $50

Does Embrace offer any discounts?

Embrace Pet Insurance offers some discounts to help policyholders save money.

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Dog Product Hero Reminder Join the over 2,438,795+ insured cats & dogs across the US Compare pet insurance plans & prices from top providers in minutes LEARN MORE Cat Product Hero Reminder

Embrace waiting periods and age restrictions

Embrace has some waiting periods and age restrictions you need to know before you sign up for pet insurance.

Waiting periods: As noted previously, the waiting period is the amount of time you have to wait to use your benefits. Embrace Pet Insurance has a two-day waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. While the waiting period is short for most claims, there is a six-month waiting period for certain orthopedic conditions, such as osteosarcoma and ligament tears.

Age restrictions: Your pet must be at least six weeks old to become enrolled in a policy. While there is no maximum age limit, pets 15 and older are only eligible for accident-only coverage.

How does Embrace Insurance compare to other providers?

The table below shows how Embrace pet insurance compares to other popular providers like Healthy Paws, Fetch Pet Insurance and many more. Select the competitor you want to compare to see how Embrace stacks up.
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Embrace Pet Insurance Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
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Compare Coverage
Accident & Illness Coverage
Available
Available
Accident-Only Coverage
Available
Not Available
Surgery
Covered
Covered
Hereditary and Congenital Conditions
Covered
Covered
Chronic Conditions
Covered
Covered
Dental Disease
Covered
Not covered
Allergies
Covered
Covered
Cancer Treatment
Covered
Covered
Physical Therapy
Covered
Covered
Alternative Therapies
Covered
Covered
Behavioral issues
Covered
Not covered
Breed Specific Issues
Covered
Not covered
Emergency Vet Visits
Covered
Covered
Telehealth Visits
Covered
Not covered
24/7 Vet Chat
Covered
Not covered
Specialist Visits
Covered
Covered
Exam Fees
Add On
Not covered
Blood Tests
Covered
Covered
Laboratory Testing
Covered
Covered
X-Rays & CT Scans
Covered
Covered
Wellness Coverage
Add On
Not Available
Prescription Medication
Covered
Covered
Prescription Food
Add On
Not covered
Microchipping
Add On
Not covered
Boarding
Not covered
Not covered
Euthanasia
Covered
Covered
Max Enrollment Age
14 years
14 years
Accident Waiting Period
2 days
15 days
Illness Waiting Period
14 days
15 days
Orthopedic Waiting Period
6 months
12 months

How does the Embrace claim & reimbursement process work?

To file an insurance claim, you must submit an itemized invoice from your veterinarian.

The invoice must include:

If you submit via fax, email or postal mail, you must also include a claim form.

You don’t need to submit a claim form if you file via the company’s mobile app or online portal (MyEmbrace). Once the company approves your claim, you’ll receive your reimbursement by check or direct deposit.

About Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace Pet Insurance provides access to affordable insurance for cats and dogs.

Since selling its first pet insurance policy in 2006, Embrace has partnered with multiple animal welfare organizations to make donations that help cats and dogs find safe, happy homes.

In its 17-year history, Embrace has also launched several new features, including a mobile app, an online customer portal and access to a 24/7 pet helpline. This helps to ensure that customers receive their reimbursements in a timely manner.

Embrace FAQs

Is Embrace a good pet insurance provider?

Nearly 2,000 Trustpilot users have given Embrace Pet Insurance a 5-star rating. The company also covers more services than some of its closest competitors, making it a good option if you need pet insurance for a cat or dog. Embrace also scored a 4.8 out of 5 rating in our in-depth pet insurance review.

How long does it take Embrace to reimburse a claim?

You can expect Embrace Pet Insurance to process each claim within 10 to 15 days. From there, you should receive your reimbursement by check within 10 business days or by direct deposit within 3 business days (By default, reimbursements are sent by a check in the mail, but you can opt into direct deposit instead).

Does Embrace cover exotic pets?

No. Embrace doesn’t offer pet insurance for exotic pets or farm animals.

Does Embrace pet insurance cover spaying and neutering?

Spaying and neutering aren’t covered under the company’s accident and illness or accident-only plans. However, Wellness Rewards will reimburse you for these services if you haven’t already exhausted your annual benefits.

Does Embrace pet insurance cover euthanasia?

Accident and illness plans cover euthanasia as long as it’s recommended due to a covered condition. Your pet insurance won’t cover euthanasia if it’s recommended for a pre-existing condition or another excluded condition. The Wellness Rewards plan may also reimburse you for cremation, burial or keepsake fees.

How do I cancel a policy with Embrace?

To cancel your pet insurance, contact Embrace at (800) 511-9172 or email hello@embracepetinsurance.com.

Is Embrace Pet Insurance accepted everywhere?

With Embrace, you can visit any licensed general veterinarian, specialist, or emergency vet in the United States and submit a claim to Embrace for reimbursement.

Does Embrace pay the vet directly?

Embrace Pet Insurance does not pay the vet directly so you’ll have to pay the invoice upfront and then submit a claim online to Embrace for reimbursement.

How much does Embrace Pet Insurance cost?

On average, Embrace’s standard accident and illness plan costs approximately $18-$72 per month for dogs and $8-$38 per month for cats.

Is Embrace and Geico the same?

GEICO offers pet insurance policies through Embrace, but they are not owned by the same company.

Leigh Morgan
Leigh Morgan Personal Finance

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last 5 years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

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